John Fox (biographer) facts for kids

John Fox (born May 10, 1693 – died October 25, 1763) was an English writer who wrote about people's lives. He is known for his Memoirs (his own life story) and Characters (descriptions of people he knew). These writings help us understand the history of religious groups in England during his time.

John Fox's Life Journey

Early Years and Schooling

John Fox was born in Plymouth, England. His father was a very religious Presbyterian and wanted John to become a minister from a young age. John went to Tavistock Grammar School. Later, he studied Greek and Latin with a minister named Nicodemus Harding.

In May 1708, John joined the Exeter academy. Here, he became good friends with Joseph Hallet III, his tutor's son. This friendship led John to question some common religious beliefs, especially about the Trinity.

Starting a Career

When John finished at the academy in 1711, he wasn't sure he wanted to be a minister. He didn't want to sign the official religious articles required by the Toleration Act. This caused some tension with his father.

After a few months, a minister named Isaac Gilling visited Plymouth. He was a cousin of John's father. Gilling was in trouble for running an illegal Latin school. John's father let John go with Gilling, hoping Gilling would convince John to become a minister.

In London, John met Peter King, a judge. John also visited theaters and saw important people. He wasn't very impressed with the ministers he met. After two weeks, he returned with Gilling to Newton Abbot. A letter from his father finally made him decide to become a minister. He stayed with Gilling for about nine months, which he called the happiest time of his life. He even fell in love with Gilling's daughter.

In 1713, a famous minister named Edmund Calamy told John that he didn't always have to sign the official papers. This made John feel better about his path.

Time in London

In October 1714, John Fox moved to London and stayed there until April 1716. He lived with other young ministers. He became close friends with Thomas Secker and Samuel Chandler. He felt they helped him think more freely about his beliefs.

John's father wanted him to get a license to preach before returning to Plymouth. This meant taking an exam, which John didn't want to do. He found a way around it by simply taking an oath of loyalty to the king. This was during a time when all ministers had to renew their oaths because of a rebellion.

Back in Plymouth

When John returned to Plymouth, he realized he hadn't officially joined a church. He was accepted without question. He preached his first sermon in Chulmleigh, Devonshire. However, other ministers were suspicious because he didn't have a license.

He soon found that the Exeter assembly wouldn't recognize him without a license. So, he asked to choose his own examiners. He cleverly answered their questions and finally received his license on October 17, 1717. In 1719, he sided with James Peirce, a leader of a group with different religious views. Because of this, he only got to preach to small, struggling churches. It seems he was never formally ordained as a minister.

On May 12, 1723, John's father passed away. John then decided to leave the ministry. He had enough money to live comfortably. On December 23, 1723, he married Miss Gilling, the daughter of Isaac Gilling. He lived a quiet life, enjoying his books and friends.

In 1736, he wrote that he had started attending the official church services. This was to support public peace. His main worry was his wife's health. She passed away on December 19, 1762, and John was very sad. He died on October 25, 1763, at the age of 70. He had one daughter, Mary, who married John Cleather in 1747.

John Fox's Writings

After 1744, John Fox wrote his own Memoirs (his life story) and Characters (descriptions of people he knew). These writings are very important because they give us a look into the history of non-conformist religious groups in England. Non-conformists were Protestants who did not follow the Church of England.

Fox wrote freely, even though his opinions of people were sometimes influenced by his dislikes. In 1814, parts of his Characters were used by a writer named Joshua Toulmin. In 1821, both the Memoirs and nine Characters were published in a magazine called the 'Monthly Repository'. They also included letters between Fox and his friends, Secker and Chandler.

The editor of the magazine, Robert Aspland, said he had received the original writings from one of Fox's family members. He planned to print them again and put the originals in a special library. Unfortunately, this didn't happen. Today, a copy of Fox's papers can be found in the public library in Plymouth.